Abstract: An improved premix-type burner for a gas-fired metal processing furnace includes a burner insert externally adjustable over a stepless continuum. The burner insert includes a helical thread disposed on its outer diameter which cooperatively engages with a helical thread disposed on an inner diameter of the burner body bore. Rotation of an adjustment tube, which extends into the burner body and is affixed to the burner insert concentrically disposed therein, causes axial translation of the burner insert, thereby regulating fuel flow to the combustion chamber and controlling the combustion process.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning metal dust particles from a stranded cable made of metallic wires. The apparatus comprises a cleaning cylinder located downstream of a stranding die through which the stranded cable passes. Pressurized air is injected into the cleaning cylinder and impinges on the cable to entrain metal dust on the cable. A vacuum source connected to the cleaning cylinder withdraws air and entrained dust from the cleaning cylinder at a volumetric flow rate greater than the volumetric flow rate of pressurized air into the cleaning cylinder so as to generate a net inflow of air to the cylinder and prevent the egress of dust particles from the cylinder.

Abstract: An oval or elliptical shaped overhead conductor that is twisted along its length to provide a continuously varying profile to the wind. A single core is comprised of a circular center wire wrapped by circular wires and the core is surrounded or encased by one or more layers of wire strands, including strands of different size from that of the core wires. Each layer is helically wound in a direction opposite to the underlying layers. The surrounding strands may be circular, with the strand sizes symmetrically arranged to result in a substantially oval or elliptical cross-section. Alternatively, the strands may be shaped into symmetrically arranged non-circular arcuate cross-sections, which when wound together result in an oval or elliptical conductor cross-section. The core strands are each circular or round wires having the same diameter, with the result that the core is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously extruding material includes a moving member and a stationary member forming a passageway therebetween for frictional feeding of the material to be extruded under pressure into the passageway. An abutment in the passageway forms a barrier to the material being fed therein, whereby the forces on the material heat it and cause it to yield. The heated material flows into an extrusion chamber adjacent to the abutment and is extruded from a die in a wall of the chamber. A cooling system in heat exchanging relationship with the chamber in proximity to the die maintains the material in that region of the chamber at a substantially uniform temperature to provide uniformity of grain size in the extruded product. A further cooling system at the point of egress cools the extruded product immediately as it exits from the die to inhibit secondary recrystallization.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting soluble oil flow rates to control physical properties of continuously rolled rod including a nozzle for spraying the rod with fluid, a tank for providing the fluid to the nozzle, a valve means in series with the tank for regulating the fluid flow to the nozzle, a controller means connected to and for controlling the valve to ensure that the fluid flow reaches a desired predetermined rate, a computer means connected to and providing said controller with the desired predetermined fluid flow rate, a flowmeter in series with the valve means for measuring the actual fluid flow rate to the nozzle and providing this information to the controller means so that, if necessary, the valve means may be adjusted to achieve the desired predetermined fluid flow rate and an historical data generating means for automatically adjusting said desired predetermined fluid flow rate in accordance with actual measurements of at least one physical property of the rod whose value depends upon the ac

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for accurately measuring the moisture content of a moving bed of a product, such as strip tobacco, are disclosed. As the bed of tobacco is conveyed by a perforated or porous conveyor, a flow of air is directed upwardly through the conveyor and into the bed of tobacco. The air flow agitates and homogenizes the tobacco to provide a localized area of the bed of tobacco that has a substantially uniform moisture content from top to bottom. A moisture sensor located downstream of the air flow measures the moisture content of the agitated portion of the tobacco bed.

Abstract: A brake band for the bobbins used on a rigid frame wire strander. The brake band is a substantially non-porous polyester strip or band, preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The band is provided with a longitudinal crease for keeping the band centered on the hub of the bobbin with which it is associated.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the high speed shaping of wires to be used to make a compact stranded cable are disclosed. A plurality of roll pairs for shaping the cross section of a wire in a peripheral groove are mounted to the layhead of a strander apparatus. The rolls of each pair are supported on axles, the axes of which are maintained parallel to each other. At least one of the rolls of each pair is mounted on an axle which is parallelly adjustable toward and away from the other axle. A single adjustment screw is provided for urging the adjustable axle in a direction to engage the peripheries of the rolls.

Abstract: A water impervious cable construction for aerial, underground, or underwater use which includes at least one central electrical conductor, an overlayer of insulation material such as a plastic, a shield layer formed of a plurality of individual conductors (or the equivalent) which may be spirally wrapped and which shield layer is embedded in a layer of semiconducting material (which may also be a plastic), a layer of overlapped moisture barrier metal foil material, and a further overlayer of insulating material. The cable is manufactured on a substantially conventional cable extrusion line in which the partially manufactured cable (insulated core or cores wrapped with the shield conductors) is introduced into an extruder and a layer of semiconducting material is extruded thereon, wrapped with metal foil tape (which may include an edge located sealant), and introduced into a subsequent extruder to form one or more outer coatings.

Abstract: An improved wiring device terminal which provides a constant and predetermined compressive securing force on an electrical conductor wire being terminated on such device and which responds to thermally induced variations of the electrical conductor's dimensions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved new product and a process for its manufacture. The new product is a continuous cast steel bar having improved surface quality when compared to prior art continuous cast steel bars. The improved product is produced by means of a continuous casting machine of the known type having a rotating casting wheel with a peripheral groove which is closed along a portion of its length by a metal band.

Abstract: A method of melting and refining copper in the combustion chamber of a vertical shaft furnace which includes a step of superheating the melt so that slag formed by oxidized impurities can flow freely from the furnace.

Abstract: In a continuous casting and rod rolling system, the production rate is generally limited by the capacity of the slowest element. The present invention is directed to changes in the rod coiling station portion of the system, and particularly to modifications to the flyer tube and loop forming portions which enable higher production capacity. According to these changes, the prior art flyer tube is shortened to eliminate the constant radius end portion thereof, and the circle forming function is performed by adding an annular cylinder coaxial with the flyer tube axis to shape the rod into a nearly perfect circle. The flyer tube according to the invention has a continuously changing angular relationship from its axis; the curved longitudinal path of the tube redirects rod from its vertical path to discharge the rod from the flyer tube in a generally horizontally direction. The circular loop forming cylinder forms the rod into circular loops which fall freely from the cylinder onto a turntable surface.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates a conductor contact apparatus, a conductor defect detector, and a relay or equivalent added to the emergency stop circuit of a conductor insulation extruder apparatus in order to detect conductor defects and shut-down the extrusion apparatus before the conductor defect can cause the extruder to become blocked, interrupting normal production operations. The defect detector is especially adapted to detect variations in the cross-sectional area (or apparent cross-sectional area) of a conductor being insulated.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuously casting a high impurity content molten metal in a casting means and the product formed thereby. The method includes the steps of cooling said metal while in said casting means to a temperature resulting in a sound cast bar, extracting the sound cast bar from said casting machine, advancing the sound cast bar to pre-heating means, heating the sound cast bar to a hot-forming temperature, passing the cast bar at a hot-forming temperature from the pre-heating means to a hot-forming means, and hot-forming the cast bar into a wrought product without the cat bar cracking, even when the cast bar has an impurity content of from about 20 to about 200 ppm.

Abstract: A portable hand control device for operating the brake and accelerator foot pedals of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The device comprises a pair of collapsible control rods, each swivelingly connected at one end to a respective foot pedal clamp and at the other end to an elongate handle adapted to be held in either hand of the user. The handle and control rods are free of any operative connection to the motor vehicle apart from the foot pedal clamps.